Blossburg Borough Police Department

In an Emergency, please dial 911!

The Blossburg Borough Police Department is within the Borough office located at 245 Main Street. The department is comprised of a full time Chief, 1 full time patrol officer, and 3 part time Patrol Officers. Blossburg Borough PD is a part time police department that operates 7 days a week with patrols ranging
from an 8 hour day to continuous 24 hour coverage. The department operates 2 vehicles including a 2013 Ford Interceptor SUV and a 2007 Dodge Charger. During the summer months and special events, the department conducts specialized patrols using its 2 mountain bikes outfitted with police patrol packages.

If you need to speak with an officer for a non-emergency reason, contact the office at 570-638-3134. This may include information from an on-going case, returning of a 5-day warning card, or other general information. If you need to speak with an officer immediately, dial 911 or 570-724-4666. The communications center will dispatch the officer via radio to respond or contact you. Although it may not always be a dire emergency, any individual requesting immediate assistance or wishing to report a criminal violation should contact 911. It is also imperative that you utilize the above numbers to contact an officer rather than attempt contact on their home or personal numbers or by going to their residence. 911 will notify the proper on duty officer.

BPD would like to remind all residents to have their homes properly labeled with the numeric address visible from the roadway. This will ensure that all emergency personnel including police, fire, and EMS can locate your house quickly in the event you need assistance. A reflective sign or letting is highly recommended. Please lock your vehicles and remove any valuable items in open view when you park your vehicle, especially along the roadway. In the past, vehicles that have been unlocked were targeted. Although we live in a safe area, being proactive better prevents a loss by theft from occurring. Prescription drugs are becoming an ever more popular choice of illegal narcotics by young individuals. It is of the utmost importance that you store your prescriptions in a safe place and not “advertise” that you are taking them. It is illegal to provide someone with a prescription medication other than the name that the medications were prescribed to.

Here is a couple of important laws from the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code:

§ 3316. Prohibiting text-based communications.

(a) Prohibition.–No driver shall operate a motor vehicle on a highway or trafficway in this Commonwealth while
using an interactive wireless communications device to send, read or write a text-based communication while the
vehicle is in motion. A person does not send, read or write a text-based communication when the person reads, selects
or enters a telephone number or name in an interactive wireless communications device for the purpose of activating
or deactivating a voice communication or a telephone call.

(b) (Reserved).

(c) Seizure.–The provisions of this section shall not be construed as authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of
an interactive wireless communications device, unless otherwise provided by law.

(d) Penalty.–A person who violates subsection (a) commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $50.

(e) Preemption of local ordinances.–In accordance with section 6101 (relating to applicability and uniformity of title), this section
supersedes and preempts all ordinances of any municipality with regard to the use of an interactive wireless communications device
by the driver of a motor vehicle.

(f) Definition.–As used in this section, the term “text-based communication” means a text message, instant message, electronic
mail or other written communication composed or received on an interactive wireless communications device.

§ 3327. Duty of driver in emergency response areas.

(a) General rule.–When approaching or passing an emergency response area, a person, unless otherwise directed by an emergency service responder, shall:

(1) pass in a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency response area, if possible; or

(2) if passing in a nonadjacent lane is impossible, illegal or unsafe, pass the emergency response area at a careful and prudent reduced
speed reasonable for safely passing the emergency response area.

(b) Penalty.–Any person violating subsection (a) commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, pay a fine of not more than $250.

(b.1) Suspension of operating privilege.–The department shall suspend the operating privilege of any person for 90 days
upon receiving a certified record of the driver’s conviction, adjudication of delinquency or admission into a preadjudication
program for a violation of subsection (a), if the certified conviction indicates the violation resulted in serious bodily injury
to another person. The license shall be surrendered in accordance with section 1540 (relating to surrender of license).

(c) Marking.–An emergency response area shall be clearly marked with road flares, caution signs or any other traffic-control
device which law enforcement officials may have at their immediate disposal or visual signals on vehicles meeting the requirements
of Subchapter D of Chapter 45 (relating to equipment of authorized and emergency vehicles).

(f) Definition.–As used in this section, the term “emergency response area” means the area in which emergency service
responders render emergency assistance to individuals on or near a roadway or a police officer is conducting a traffic stop
or systematic check of vehicles or controlling or directing traffic as long as the emergency vehicle is making use of visual
signals meeting the requirements of Subchapter D of Chapter 45.